STWM Course change!

[purdy65]

Uggh...

Up University to begin! Other than that, not bad.

NOT easier though by any means!

http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.co ... -marathon/

[Run928]

The Port Lands is stil there and they cut the Beach section in half. A small step forward, but I'm sure a lot of work with the Ford folks at City Hall to get this positive change.

[Robinandamelia]

I do like the fact that they are getting rid of that hill on Queen street at the 34k mark....that killed me every time!

[La]

I guess they won't be able to claim FLAT FAST and Festive (well maybe still festive) anymore!

[QuickChick]

I think that's still pretty flat! University is a grind (I can imagine) at the 40K mark of a marathon, but it's really a barely noticeable incline, and at the beginning, no problem IMO. I like the changes- I think it will be cool to see more of the city during the race.

[fingerboy]

I do like the fact that they are getting rid of that hill on Queen street at the 34k mark....that killed me every time!

? I think you are confused. It's always been Eastern Ave. That IS the hill. But its not at 34k, its more like 40k (even worse!)

Edit - Actually I think I know what you mean, when you return up on Queen - the mini rollers near the turn around. Well some of those are gone as it doesn't go as far East to Vic Park. But I think the 40k hill is far worse.

[canalrunner]

It certainly brings the marathon more into the city for the first 10k which will be nice. Interesting landmarks such as Queens Park, U of T, ROM, Bloor Street etc... makes it more appealing and the course more accessible to spectators. It was isolated to the southern rim before. Only in a marathon as flat as Scotiabank would the out and back undulation at the end of Queen street and the swaggle over the DVP on the Eastern Parkway be considered hills, but substituting some elevation changes to go up to Bloor in the first half is likely a good thing. Will miss running all of the Beach. Not sure if the race promoted the turnaround at Neville Park as a Hill, until they made the change to eliminate it from the course, only then did it become big.

[Robinandamelia]

I do like the fact that they are getting rid of that hill on Queen street at the 34k mark....that killed me every time!

? I think you are confused. It's always been Eastern Ave. That IS the hill. But its not at 34k, its more like 40k (even worse!)

Edit - Actually I think I know what you mean, when you return up on Queen - the mini rollers near the turn around. Well some of those are gone as it doesn't go as far East to Vic Park. But I think the 40k hill is far worse.

Yes that's what I mean. When you hit the turnaround at the beaches before, it was a sharp turn and a gradual incline up and it was hard. Last year it was straight into that horrible headwind. I know about the big hill over the highway but quite frankly I found the one at the end of Queen rougher, especially last year in the wind. I find that point in a marathon a tough part for me so turning up that hill was rough. This is what they say about it on their site

The East end turnaround will be on Queen at Beach Avenue, allowing the race to cut the tough hill and nasty u-turn at Neville Park, that came at the 34km mark previously

[QuickChick]

This is what they say about it on their site

The East end turnaround will be on Queen at Beach Avenue, allowing the race to cut the tough hill and nasty u-turn at Neville Park, that came at the 34km mark previously

How are they going to avoid a u-turn at Beech? At least at the old turnaround people could run around the streetcar loop. Unless the course goes down to the water and back, that will be a really sharp turn. And if it goes back up from the water, there will be as much of an incline as there was on Queen.

[fingerboy]

I think there will still be a u turn but at Beach rd.

The 34k mark I didn't mind because I do a lot of my long distance training that ends half way at the filtration plant there, well all the way down right to the pier there at the bottom (10mi). Then it's turn around, run steep uphill from the lake up Vic Park to Kingston Rd. then more uphill to Donora park. So mentally I'm ready for it.


Frankly. I'd rather do those new sections of the city at the end of the race. A) it'd be more exciting for spectators, b) Who really cares about the first 5km? c) If it is more exciting, again, better to distract you at the end of the race rather than the beginning.

[QuickChick]

Whoa, just want to say good on you for running up Vic Park at 34K of your long run! That's hard core!

[canalrunner]

It looks like a U turn on Queen Street--just earlier than before, avoiding the slope at the end of Queen sT. No jog into the neighbourhood. In previous years, Found the turnaround quite tight with lots of runners taking any momentum and cadence you have out of the race for a moment. Don't anticipate that will change. The Queens Park, Bloor etc.. would have been fun nearer the end but they probaby didn't want to add the elevation gain in the second half of race. If the Queen car turnaround is a hill then going up to Bloor Street would be a mountain. IMHO All in all a better course.

[La]

It looks like a U turn on Queen Street--just earlier than before, avoiding the slope at the end of Queen sT. No jog into the neighbourhood. In previous years, Found the turnaround quite tight with lots of runners taking any momentum and cadence you have out of the race for a moment. Don't anticipate that will change. The Queens Park, Bloor etc.. would have been fun nearer the end but they probaby didn't want to add the elevation gain in the second half of race. If the Queen car turnaround is a hill then going up to Bloor Street would be a mountain. IMHO All in all a better course.

It might also have been due to having to close roads. Much better to do that super early on Sunday (7-8AM) than later in the day.

I still think someone should try to plan a race that goes through the mayor's neighbourhood.

[Robinandamelia]

I still think someone should try to plan a race that goes through the mayor's neighbourhood.

+1

[BJH]

It looks like a U turn on Queen Street--just earlier than before, avoiding the slope at the end of Queen sT. No jog into the neighbourhood. In previous years, Found the turnaround quite tight with lots of runners taking any momentum and cadence you have out of the race for a moment. Don't anticipate that will change. The Queens Park, Bloor etc.. would have been fun nearer the end but they probaby didn't want to add the elevation gain in the second half of race. If the Queen car turnaround is a hill then going up to Bloor Street would be a mountain. IMHO All in all a better course.

It might also have been due to having to close roads. Much better to do that super early on Sunday (7-8AM) than later in the day.

I still think someone should try to plan a race that goes through the mayor's neighbourhood.

On his road, not through the park though. And don't allow any TorStar reporters to cover it.

I agree that sending the runners up to Bloor early is more to do with road closures than any concern with the elevation gain. It looks like a good route. I'm toying with the half, depends how NYCM training is going. I may want a 21.1k race pace run about then.

[Killerz]

I think its pretty cool having those extra sections in it, taking in Bloor, Bathurst, Church (I think) and a few other spots. Toronto has some nice streets that should be seen more often in races! Places like College Street, Queen West would be nice too add in too - more of a city feel to it. The first half (more or less) of the Goodlife marathon is great (leaving aside the downhill which obviously is excellent), and its nice to see all those neighbourhoods around Yonge, ForestHill etc. This change brings a little of that kind of thing into the 'Waterfront' marathon.

Theres obviously a reason for everything, but I really dont see why they cant get rid of those two stupid hairpins in the docklands area. They are awful. I'd probably be asking too much to take out Commissioners aswell???